Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Wellness by Nathan Hill

6 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

The best part of this book was the ending for two reasons: 1) it was finally over and 2) it was truly the only part of the story I thought was well told. For the ray of the time, I kept wondering why this book was so damned long.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug use, Cancer, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Bullying, and Fire/Fire injury

tiggerrd's review against another edition

emotional funny informative mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, and Death

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

 Wellness is a rich multilayered novel exploring the lives of a Chicago couple, Jack and Elizabeth. It goes back to examine their childhoods, their teen years, the early years of their relationship and their early years of parenthood showing the reader how they came to be the people they are today, and how their marriage came to be in the state it is, a state that has one spouse arguing for two master bedrooms in the new home they are planning so that if they should divorce they could easily continue to live in one home, providing stability for their ten year old son. It’s a novel that is not afraid to be discursive, exploring in depth a whole range of issues including the placebo effect and internet algorithms, polyamory, parenting, art and so much more. Some parts are absolutely heartbreaking, others totally hilarious, and more than a few are guaranteed to resonate with readers of a similar age to Jack and Elizabeth. It’s length and discursiveness mean it won’t be a book for every reader but I thoroughly enjoyed deeply immersing myself in their world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Cancer

creativerunnings's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Death of parent, Mental illness, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship

tarajoy90's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Emotional abuse

Minor: Cancer

caseythereader's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Thanks to AA Knopf for the free copy of this book.

 - WELLNESS is a book that is so sprawling and layered that I am having a hard time collecting my thoughts about it.
- Hill is such a master of slowly unspooling a story, giving us each piece of a character's life at the exact moment it's needed, which somehow makes a slow, character-based novel feel like a page turner.
- It's possibly I simply connect too deeply to this book, given that I'm someone who thought she'd be an artist of some kind who is now married in the suburbs...but I think even if you don't identify with that particular part of the story, there will be something in Jack and Elizabeth's lives that rings true to you.
- The more I think about this book, the more sure I am that I can't condense it into an Instagram caption. Consider this an open invitation to come chat with me about it if you've read it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, and Sexual content